Typewriting machine



April 19, 1927. H. L. PITMAN 1,625,331

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1923 vIl i Patented Apr. 19,y 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE. l

HENRY L. PIMAN, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY`OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application led June 4,

This invention relates to typewriting' inachines wherein ya motor is employed for returning. the carriage. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the motor and transmission gear connections and support.

Theinvention is illustrated as applied to a machine in which the carriage-returning -motor and controlling means therefor are generally similar to those 'disclosed in 'my pending application No. 621,520, filed February 2 i923 (now Patent No. LSOQ, dated April` 13, 1926)'. 'n 'that machine, the carriage-returning mechanism comprises two separable units,'each remm'ably mounted at the back ot the machine, viz, a motorunit including the motor and motor-shalt, and a transmission-assembly unit. The latl ter unit includes a transmission-shaft sep- Y arably connected to the motor-shaft, a pinion, a pinion-shaft, suitable gearing connecting said transmission and pinion shafts for driving the pinion-shaft, complemented clutch-members on the pinion-shaft for connecting and disconnecting the pinion and the transmission mechanism, and a bracket removably niountedon the machine-frame for carrying the entire unit. The pinion meshes with a rack on the carriage and drives it, when connected with the motor, to move the carriagein an anti-letter-feed direction. Due to variations which may occur in the manufacture ot the rather numerous parts of the transmission-assembly, the carriagereturn rack, and the supporting means for the rack, difficulty is sometimes experienced in causing the pinion and the rack to mesh properly when placed in the machine. In accordance with the present invention in its preferred form, the transmission-assemblysupporting bracket `is mounted on the machine-frame with provision for pivotal adjustment about an axis parallel to the pin- *i ion-shaft, This adjustment enables the `pinion to be raised or lowered and soto be engaged properly with the rac", but does not permit the pinion-teethto be moved out of parallelism with the rack-teeth nor th il direction ot the pinion-shaft to be changed to cause interference with the shifting of the clutch. -The adjustable bracket may comprise a vertical portion pivoted on a bearing member received 4in the rear tace of the machine-frame and horizontal por- 1923. Serial No. 643,165.

tion having set-screws for engaging an upper horizontal face of the machine-frame, to tinely adjust the bracket in opposite directions with reference to its pivot. Means may `also be provided for securing the bracket to the rear wall ot the machine- 'frame in adjusted position.

The motor is mounted on the machinevtrame independently ot' the transmissionassembly, and as a separate unit. The end ot' the motor-shaft lits into the end of the transmission-shaft when the machine is completely assembled for operation. The adjustment of the transn'iission-assemblysupporting bracket, in'assembling the machine, is apt to displace the end of the transmission-assembly shaft, however, and, in order that the connection may be made between the motor and the transmission shafts in any adjusted position of the latter, the motor is also ymounted upon an adjustable bracket. This `bracket extends forward horizontally over the base ot' the escapement-supporting frame located subst-antiall" at the middle of the back of the machine, and is held to said base by securing screws. Adjustment set-screws in the lbracket bear against the supporting frame and may be adjusted to raise or lower the bracket. The'securing screws may be selectively turned to vary the limiting position to which the bracket may be r ised by the adjustment set-screws. The bracket` when thus adjusted and secured in place by the oppositely-acting adjustment and securing screws, will have `no tendency to become loose or to vibrate. In this way, advantage is taken of the presence in the machine ot' a broad horizontal support upon' which the. motor may be adjustably mounted by means which retain it securelyY in position. mounting of the motor at the middle ot the back has other advantages. The transmission-shaft may be madevery short, thereby reducing the amount thatA its free endy is moved by adjustment or' the transmis-sirmassembly, and consequently reducing the amount which it is necessary to adjust the motor. The'motor is located at one side of the spring-drum-adjusting means, and this has the doubleadvantage of rendering said means accessible and of permitting the motor to be set forward with its'iiorward end extending into the machine-trame.

The arrangement of the parts is compact,

The

and the motor, when in operative position, prevents access to the adjustment and securingscrewsof the motor-supporting bracket, so that unintentional disturbance of the adjustment and' securing screws is prevented. To facilitate mounting of the motorin the present compact assembly, the motorie made disconnectible at its lower end .from its supporting bracket, The motor casing and bracket ymay be provided with vopenings arranged -to be aligned and to receive securing bolts. Provision is also `made for prevent4 ing rotation of the motor aboutthe axis of the bolts. In assembling the carriage-returning `mechanism vin the machine, the transmission-assembly is first mounted on theframe, and its supporting bracket is adjusteditoicause the pinion to mesh properly with the carriage-returning rack. The motor-supporting bracket, withoutthemotor, isY then secured in a tentative position on the frame. The end of the motor-shaft is placed in the socket of the transmissionshaft and the motor is swung down to enable the operator to see whether it is properly located to vbe Vattached to its supporting bracket. If Vthe motor and bracket do not properly align, the motor may then be removed, the bracket may be adjusted, and the' -accuracyof the adjustmentpmay be testre'dbyaga'in :fitting the .motor in place'until the proper adjustment of the bracket hasV bee'nattained, to permit the motor tobe Ysecured in operative position. AThe adjust ment and securing screws, while they act oppositely to each other, are however both accessible :from above; and this facilitates their operation,

VOther features and inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 isa rearelevation, partly broken away,of an Underwood typewriting machine embod-ying the vimprovements of the present invention.

fFi-gure 2 is a :perspective sectional side elevation ofthe machine.

VFigure 3 is a detail horizontal :sectional view on a larger scale than Figure 1, showadvantages will here- `ing the motor-supporting bracket- The typewriting machine comprises a frame 10, 'ay carriage 11 -movable 1n letterfeed direction :by a' spring-drum 12 under 1theinfluence of suitable escapement mechanism comprising a universal :bar V13 in the paths-"of 'type-bars 14, a dog-rocker 15, an eseapement-pinion A16 and .an escapementrack .17. |The carriage is rapidly returned to the beginning ol a line by a vmeter 1 8, made 'effective by motor-controlling means similar tov those disclosed in the 'patent to 'Frederick A. Hart, No. -1,238,908,;dated Septemberi4, 1917. Such retunoperation may .be Ainitiated 'either by manually .or automatically actuated means (not shown herein),

either of which is effective, when actuated,

to move an arm 19 rearwardly, thereby rocking a shaft 20, wlnch, through crank-arm 21,

Voperates connections to elosea motorfswitch (not shown), The Vrocking of the shaft 2OV isalso effective through an arm 22, link Y23, rock-arm 24, shaft 25 and arm 26 which eX- tends into an annular groove 27 of a carriage-returning pinion 28, to move the pinion along its shaft 29 and cause a' clutchmember 30, carried Vby the pinion, to engageV with a complemental clutch-member 31 fast to the shaft 29, thereby connecting the pinion with the motor. VThe pinion 28V is almission-assembly unit 33 comprising aV woringear 34 on the rear end of the pinionf rlhe motor 18 andV shaft 29, a worm 35 meshing with the gear i 34 at the bottom thereof, and a. horizontal worm-carrying transmission-shaft 36 eX- tending parallel to the back ofthe machine. The transmission-assembly unit V33 also Vincludes a gearhousing 37, having a flange 38 secured by screws 39 upon a vert-ical portion of a supporting ybracket 40. The suprportingbracket 40 is pivotally mounted upon a shouldered bearing-screw 41, which eX- tends parallel. to the pinion-.shaft 29 and is threaded, into the rearvertical face of the machine-frame l0. The supportingrbracket 40 has a horizontal flange 42 which extends 'forward over a horizontal surface 43of the machine-frame 10. Two set-screws 44 are threaded into the horizontal flange 42 and bear upon the horizontal surface 43 just in front of the tabulator-frame 45 and behind the rear carriage-supporting,rail 46 for adjusting the bracket about its pivot. rIhe carriage 11 may be moved to the V.left- (as viewed by the operator) to clear this por'V Vtion of the frame, and a screw-driver may be conveniently inserted between the rail 46 Y and tabulator-frame 45 to adjust the setscrews 44. The bracket 40 maythenbe secured firmly in adjusted position Vby tightening a nut 47 upon Va bolt .48 which passes through the rear wall ofthe machine-finme and vthrough an .openingin the vertical tpartion of the bracket 49 that is large enough to permit the adjustment of the bracket.

The transmission-'shaft .36 has a sleeve 49` fast -upon it, which extends beyond the end ofthe shaft and forms arsocket .50 for loosely :receiving the end of the motor-shaft '51. A driving connection between,V said motor .and transmission shafts is effected through a pin '5201i the motoreshaft and a slot `5:3 inthe sleeve 49. The tilting of the transmission-assembly 33 about the pivot-screw .41 to adjust the pinion 2 8 up and down will, of course, raise and lower the socket 50 which is to receive the motor-shaft 51. Provision is therefore made ofmeans for adjusting the motor to permit a connection to be effected Vbetween the ends of the transmission and motor shafts 36 and 51 in any adjusted position of the former. A motor-supporting bracket 54 is held upon Vthe'base of the escapement-mechanismsupporting frame 56 by'four headed securing screws 57 which pass ,freely through the bracket 54 and are threaded into the base 55. Two adjustment set-screws 58 are threaded into the bracket 54 and engage the upper face of the base 55. The bracket 54 is adjusted by selectively turning the screws 57k to limit-the upward movement Vof the bracket in the desired position, and by then turning Vthe set-screws 58 Ato 'raisefthebraeket and in place upon the bracket, prevents accessV to the adjusting screws 57 and 58. Unintentional disturbance of the adjustment screws 58 is thus prevented by their normal concealment forward of the motor-casing 59. The motor-casing59 is made separable from the supporting bracket 54, so that the motor may be removed during adjustment of the bracket 54 andV may thereafter be secured in position. The motorrcasing 59' is provided l*with ears 60 at its lower end, which have aligned openings 61 through which bolts 62l and 63 may be passed for securing the motor to the bracket 54. The bolt 62 has a lock-nut62a threaded nponit between the ear 60 and the bracket 54, which may be tightened against the bracket to prevent relative rotation of the motor-casing 59 and the bracket;y In assembling the machine, the transmission-assembly unit 33 is first yadjusted and secured in place. The motor-supporting bracket 54 without the motor is then tentatively secured in position by the screws 57 and 58. The end of the motor-shaft 51 is then inserted Yin the socket 50 and the motor is swung down to enable the operator to see whether the bolts 62 and 63 canvbey inserted for securing the motor to the bracket 54, and, if they cannot be inserted, to see how much the motor-supporting. ybracket will have to be adjusted. The motor is then remcved,--any requiredV adjustment `of the bracket 54 is made, andthe accuracy .of

the adjustment is tested if necessary until the required adjustment of the bracket is obtained, whereupon the motor is rigidly secured to the bracket.

The carriage-propelling spring-drum- 1Q is adjusted byl a knob 64 through connections which may be like those disclosed in the patent to iVilliam F. Helmond, No. 1,442,380,A dated January 23, 1923. The electrical connection boX 65 is mounted on the machine-frame 10 directly behind the spring-drum 12. but is low enough not to interfere with the adjustment of the knob 64. The motor ismounted at one side of the knob 64 and so avoids interference with the knob.

Should it be desired to remove the transmission-assembly 33 for repairs, this may be done without removing the motor and without losing the benefit of the adjustment of bracket 40, by withdrawing the screws 39 that connect the transmissionassembly to the bracket 40. f

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the J' improvements may be -used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a typewriting machine, a main typewriter framework. including a base, a carriage, carriage-returning mechanism comprising a rack on the carriage, a pinion in mesh with lthe rack, and means for driving the pinion consisting of a motor-unit which includes a motor-shaft, and a transmissionunit which includes transmission and pinion shafts and gearing connecting said shafts, a bracket supporting the `transmission-unit on the `back of the machine-frame, means for adjusting said bracket to raise or lower the H pinion to engage it properly with the rack on the carriage, a horizontal forwardly-extending bracket supporting the motor-unit on said typewriter base, and means for adjusting the motor-supporting bracket so that the motor-shaft may be connected properly to the end of the transmission-shaft.

Q. In a typewriting machine, a main typewriter' framework, including a base, a carriave a carriaUe-returninfr mechanism coinil prising a rack on the carriage, a pinion in mesh with the rack, and means for driving` the pinion consisting of a motor-unit which includes a motor-shaft, and a transmissionunit which includes transmission and pinion shafts and gearing connecting said shafts, the transmission-shaft having a socket and the motor-shaft having its end received in said socket, a bracket supporting the transmission-unit on the back of the machineframe at one side thereof, means for adjusting said bracket about an -axis parallel to the pinion-shaft to raise and lower the transmission-unit to vengage the pinion properly with thefreck on the carriage, a horizontal icl) machine',

forwardly-extending'bracket supporting the motor-unit on saidY typewriter base, and means for adjusting the motor-supporting- Vriracket comprising securing screws for limiting the separationl of'tlie bracket Vand frame, and set-screws for raising the bracket away ,from theV frame. Y

3. In a typewriting mafhine, a frame com'- prising a horizontally-extending base poi'- tion' fat the middle Yof Vthe back of the a carriage, carriage-returning mechanism comprising'a rack on the'c'arriage, a pinion' in meslrivith the' rack, 'and means for driving the pinion Yconsisting of a motor-unit which includes a motor-shaft, and a transmission-unit which includes transmission an'dp'inion shafts and gearing connecting saidV shafts, the transmission shaft having a socket-for receiving the end of the motor-shaft, means forV adjusting the -trans'n'iis's'ion-unit to cause the pinion to mesh properly With the rack, a horizontal' foi'- Wardly-extending bracket supporting vthe: motor-unit on the base portion of tlie'franie at the middle of the back ofthe machine, meansy for adjusting the 4motor-su'p'porting` bracket to enable a connection to' be made between the motor and transmission shafts, said adjusting means being inaccessible Whenlthemotor is in position on the bracket, and means for disconnectiblj'f securing the motor to tli'e bracket, sothat thev motor mayv be removed from the bracket di'iring adjustment of the bracket and, after adjustment` the' end of the motor-shaft may bein'serted endi'vi'se in the socket'of the transmissionshaft and the motor may be swung down and secured' to the bracket i 4. In a typewriting' machine, a frame ,f a carriage, carriage-reti'irning mechanism comprising a rack onthe carriage, a pinion in mesh with the rack, and means'fo'r'driving the pinion consisting of a-'iriotor-unit and a transmissioniinit,`aftransmission-unit support, means for adjusting-the transmis-y sion-unitV support to adjiist'the pinion relatively to the rack, a motor-unit support', means' for adjusting said support to' adjust the motor With reference to the transmissioiiunit, fand means separably connecting' the transmission-unit and its snpport Whereby the transiiiissi'oni-iinit may be removed from the'inachine independently of` its supi port and of the motor-unitI and may be replaced Without again'adjust'i'igthe transmission-'unit 'support and the 'motor' support;

5. 1n a typeivriting'machine," a fran'iega carriage, carriage-'returning mechanism coi'i'i'pri'sing' ar'a'ck on. the carriage, a pinion in 1i'iesli`w'ith the rack, and ineaii'sfo'r" driving the' pinion consisting'ofl a inotortiinit andva tra'iisi'n'issio'nuiiit, a transmissioneunit supporti, fradjustingsaid" sappen to4v dans@ the" pinion t mesh properiyrwat the? rack,l motor-'liitf" support," lI'Iials foi adjusting the ii'iotorl'uiiiitf support toi itt-lie motor in the-machine relatively toith'e transmission-unit, and means separably connect?` 'prisiii'g a' spring-drum and adjusting means therefor at one side of the backof'the ma'- v chine, compact carriageereturmng means comprising a motor anda'v transmission-unit coi'inectii'ig the motor and ca'rriage, rmeansV for si'ipp'ort-ing the tran'sinissionunit on'tli'e back of the machine at' one sidev thereof, `and means for sup'p'itinjgYthemotor onAV the back of the machine at the middle thereof With the forward en'dV of the motor extendingV within' i the inachine-frame, the arrangement being such that the spring-drunr-'adjlisting means may be' manipulated by the operator with the motor in operativeiposition.

carriage, cai'riage-propelling means 'comprising a s pring-d'riim and: anv adjusting knob thereforiat oneL sideof'theinachine and substantially flu'shtwitlr the back of the frame, compact carriage-returning means comprising a' motor and transmission mech-y anism connecting the' motor' andA carriage, means for supporting 'the' transmission mechanism'at onesi'd'e of the' back of'the frame, and means for supporting the `motor ontheback 'of 'tl'ie'machi'neiframe'at oile side of the springidri'iiii'ladj'iisting knob` with the forward end of the-motor located Within the machine" frame; i t

8. In a typeWr-i-ting machine, a frame, a traveling carriage, carriageereturning mechanism comprising a". rack oirtlie carriageya pinion meshing with therack,a"motor and a transmissionlas'sembly unit torcon'nect the motor andpiion and including a' forwardlyextendingpi'nionshaft, a bracket supporting the entire"transmission-assembly uni'tlon the backof-the machine'frame'v at one side'tlierel of, said bracket having' a vert-ical portion, a pi'votal suppoitonV the rear vertical portion ofthe machine-'frame'for said bracket,` the airisAV ofthe pivotal support beiirgfparallei to the pini'oi'12shaft,^the br'acketalso comprising a horizontal portion" extending` forwardly over 'a horizontal surfaceH of vein endportii of thel machine=frame, set-'Screws inthez hori- 9o I 7.v In a typ'ewriting machine, a` frame, a

zontal` portion' of 'thelbracket inf al; position Y to be rendered'acessibleiiby' movement of the carriage', fori adj listing the bracket inoppo'fe site directions* about :its pivoti'toaadjiist the cariiaigeretiirning pinionY up'and dtvnf With reference "to: th'e carriagereturiiing-rack," and m'eans for' securiir thefveirticalj 'portion of the bracket2A -rnily'ito tlie-r back of tlieY nia prevent vibration in operavbracket supporting the transmission-asseiii bly unit on the back of the machine-frame at one side thereof for pivotal movement about an'axis parallel to the pinion-shaft, means movable substantial distances for adjusting the transmission-assembly-supporting bracket through relatively minute distances to Y cause the pinion to be adjusted into co-oper- Vative relationship with the carriage-returning rack, and means for securing the bracket against vibrationy in adjusted position.

10. In a typewriting machine, a frame. a traveling carriage, carriage-returning mechanism comprising a rack on the carriagqa pinion meshing with said rack, a motor and f a transmissionassembly unit supporting the pinion to connect the motor and pinion, michometric adjusting means for adjusting the pinion up and down to engage it properly with the rack, and means for firmly securing the adjusted position of the pinion.

11. In a typewriting machine,v a frame, a traveling carriage, `carriage-returning mechanism comprising a rack on the carriage and a pinion for driving said rack, pinion-supportingv means on the machine-frame, micrometric adjusting means for said supporting means to raise and lower the pinion to engage it properly with the rack, and means for fixing the pinion-support securely againstr vibration in adjusted position.

12. In a typewriting machine, a frame, a traveling carriage, carriage-returning mechanism comprising a rack on the carriage and a. pinion for driving said rack, pinion-supporting means on the machine-frame, and means for adjusting the pinion-supporting means to raise and lower the pinion to engage it properly with the rack, said adjusting means being inherently incapable of alteration by force exerted upon the pinion' support.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combi` nation with a typewriter framework includ ing a base, and a carriage, or power mechanismV for returning the saine, includingy a motor, a support therefor, and means for mounting said support upon said base, including devices adjustable for securing ne variations in the position of the motor, said motor mounted for movement on said support into and out of working position, means ttor fastening the motor upon said support in working posit-ion, said carriage-returning mechanism also including transmission mechanism, a bracket whereby said transmission mechanism is mounted upon said framework. and means for effecting fine adjustments of said bracket independently of said motor support.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a typewriter framework including a base, and a carriage, of power mechanism for returning the same, including a motor, a support for said motor, a transmis sion mechanism between said motor and said carriage, a bracket for supporting said transmission mechanism upon said framework. and means for effecting fine adjustments of said bracket relatively to said support.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a typewriter framework including'a base, and a carriage, of power mechanism for returning the same, including a motor, a support for said motor, a transmission mechanism between said motor and said HENRY L. PITMAN. 

